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Buy the Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AT-X 840 AF-II

(From Tokina lens literature) Another first from Tokina, a complete range of lenses in one! Tokina created the world's first 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens that can boast a brightness of f/5.6 even at 400 mm! It's still the world's smallest 80-400 mm zoom lens.

The AT-X 840 AF-II model adds a built-in tripod collar and refinements in the auto focus gearing for a smoother AF. The optical design incorporates SD (APO) glass and an internal flare cutting mechanism, which removes unnecessary light (flare) to render clean sharp images. Another highly functional feature of the AT-X 840 AF-II is the zoom lock, which secures the zoom lens in its most compact position at 80 mm.

Using the included bayonet lens hood (Tokina always recommends using a lens hood) further eliminates unwanted flare. All metal barrel construction, chrome plated brass mount plate and SD glass all combine to create an AT-X lens built for travel photography.

I picked up a copy of this lens used for a trip to Four Corners - wanted a small long lens for hiking. I used it with a monopod - it doesn't have VR or OS. You'll want a fast shutter speed and may have to up ISO settings to get them.

This is a good lens for the money, solid build quality and good images. This is the smallest 80-400 out there. I replaced (this with a Sigma 150-500 - NOT the Nikon 80-400) mainly because I wanted OS/VR.

This is an under-rated lens that outperforms most of its price-point competitors. It's a real bargain used, rarely going for more than $400.

IQ may not be equal to HIGHER priced lenses (it's equal to or betters its direct competitors or lesser lenses) but you're getting 400mm in an affordable compact package.

Having seen one of these lenses fail to attract a single bid on ebay, I'm amazed.

This is an excellent lens - leaps and bounds ahead of the equivalent Sigma in build quality, and certainly on a par with it performance wise.

This lens is built like all lenses should be! - solid alloy body, silky smooth zoom, and a focusing rind that appears to run in a bearing race.

What's more, it's compact size makes it ideal for leaving on the camera for those 'wlak around' shots

Opinions have been divided on image quality. I can only comment on my own lens, and that produces sharp contrasty images, particularly when stopped down to f/7

Focus tracking is good - this lens was well able to keep up with a rapidly moving model race car, which turned and accelerated erratically.

Bottom line? - you certainly canl get better image quality - but you'll pay five time (and more) the price of this lens to get it.

You won't, however, get better build quality, even if you do pony up a small fortune for another lens - like all the Tokina ATX series lenses, build quality is exemplary. Just one twist of the cheap 'n' nasty 'plastic-on-plastic' zoom ring of the comparable Sigma 135-400 lens will be enough to tell you that the Tokina is *the* one to go for.

As for the ebay bidders who passed the Tokina 840 by? - they missed a bargain, if you see one for sale, grab it.